countries on subjects of current importance." To no subject 

 are Mr. Bryce's words more applicable than to legislation for the 

 protection of birds. 



It is obviously impossible within the limits of this treatise to 

 give more than a very brief sketch of the legislation of Europe 

 on such a subject. We shall in most cases, therefore, merely 

 give an outUne of the laws in force, only touching upon details 

 when the particular enactment referred to is of special importance. 

 We shall then be in a position to compare the extent of the pro- 

 tection given to birds on the Continent with that ajfforded to them 

 by our own laws ; with that advocated by the " Convention pour 

 la Protection des Oiseaux utiles a 1' Agriculture," signed at Paris 

 in March, 1902 ; and with that recommended by the model law 

 prepared in America in 1886. 



NORWAY. 



Commencing with the north of the Continent, the position in 

 Norway rests on the Shooting and Trapping Act of the 20th May, 

 1899. This gives the owner of ground the sole right to trap and 

 shoot on his property*. All birds are protected from shooting 

 and trapping from the 15th March to the 15th August ; formerly 

 the close time extended to the 14th Septemberf. Exceptions 

 are however made in the case of birds of prey. Ravens, Crows, 

 Magpies and certain other species which are deemed harmful ; 

 and it is also permitted to kill birds of the protected species in 

 the close season when they are doing injury to gardens, corn- 

 fields or fruit treesj. The use of steel traps and certain other 

 contrivances for trapping is forbidden, though to catch a bird of 

 prey, a steel trap may be used, provided it is carefully covered 

 and placed at a height of at least two yards above the ground§. 

 Nests may not be disturbed, nor eggs taken off the property of 

 another ; nor may the owner of the ground take or allow the eggs 

 of protected birds to be taken. On common land or high moun- 

 tains, all nests and eggs are protected, except those of the birds 

 which are excepted from the close season prescribed by Sec. 17||» 

 The penalties for infringement of the law are fines of varying 

 amounts. 



There is not much shooting or trapping of birds in Norway ; 

 and as far as small birds are concerned, they are not often 

 destroyed or taken. The law provides no exceptions for persons 

 who collect for public museums or for scientific objects. 



* Sect. 1. t Sect. 17 as amended by Law of the 14th May, 1902. 



X Sect. 17. § Sect. 22. || Sect. 28. 



